Mental Health First Aid is not unlike physical first aid: help offered for someone suffering from ill health, in this case mental ill health. MHFA courses will also teach you to spot earlier signs and symptoms of common mental health problems, such as anxiety,  depression, schizophrenia, etc. With the knowledge and tools learned in the course, individuals will be able to to deliver mental health first aid before professional medical treatment is available. The aims of mental health first aid are to:

• Preserve life
• Prevent further harm
• Promote recovery
• Provide comfort to the person who suffers  

Please note that as a qualified Mental Health First Aider, or someone who has undertaken a Mental Health First Aid course, you will not be able to diagnose or treat, but you can identify symptoms of anxiety, depression, eating disorders, amongst other challenges, and encourage someone to seek professional help. These courses do not teach you to be a counsellor or therapist, but will empower you to react and signpost when someone in mental distress may need professional help.

Two day MHFA course – this is the most comprehensive training, and the ONLY one which qualifies you as a Mental Health First Aider.

On this course you will increase your knowledge around a variety of mental health issues such as depression, anxiety and schizophrenia. You will learn some practical tools for supporting friends, family and co-workers. As a mental health first aider you will feel confident as a first responder in crisis situations and know how to guide someone towards appropriate support. You will receive a certificate on completion which does not have an expiry date. MHFA England recommend that you attend a refresher course every two – three years to keep your knowledge and skills up to date.

The one day course is recommended for those who want to create a mentally healthy environment in their workplace. It does not qualify you as a Mental Health First AIDER. 

MHFA One Day Champion course – On this MHFA Training you will learn about the most common mental health problems including how to identify when someone is experiencing mental distress.  You will feel more confident supporting others and you will know how to signpost appropriately. The one day mental health first course covers the  ALGEE action plan, and how to use it. This course is often recommended for line managers, supervisors, deputies. The course includes two sessions: Mental Health First Aid & Mental Health First Aid action plan

This half-day course is 4 hours in duration and raises awareness around Mental Health.

Mental Health Aware Half Day course –  This half day MHFA training  is a basic introduction to mental health, and why it is important. It introduces some common mental health challenges and discusses how to spot them. During this four hour course you will learn how to talk to someone who may be experiencing mental ill health, and feel more confident speaking about mental health with colleagues, friends or family. The course also will also equip you with some tools to look after your own mental health.The  Mental Health Awareness Training  includes such topics as Stigma, Depression, Anxiety Disorders etc. 

All our MHFA Training Courses are delivered by MHFA England certified trainers. You will receive an MHFA England certificate

Virtual mental health first aid is designed to support people who experience ill mental health. The person who is trained as a Mental Health First Aider is able to help someone who is experiencing mental health issues as well as try to prevent, or help during a mental health crisis. It is worth mentioning that a Mental Health First Aider is not someone who prescribes treatment or determines diagnosis.

A Mental Health First Aider role is very similar to a physical first aider. For instance, if a first aider saw someone with a broken a leg, they would give first aid until the paramedics stepped in, but not continue further treatment. Mental Health First Aid is designed to follow the exact same process – you support the individual, and assist with the situation until professional care can be administered.

Online mental health first aid training gives you structure and strategies to utilise if you encounter someone who experiences depression, distress, psychosis, and other psychological conditions. After the course you will be able to better identify symptoms like depression, anxiety, suicidal behavior, eating disorders, self- harm, psychosis etc.

You will be able to react in a supportive way, ask the right questions, with a view  to de-escalating the situation. It is a very handy ‘toolkit’ to have. Everyone has mental health, whether they are in your workplace, school, or home.

So what would you do if you came accross someone in distress?

The MHFA training provides learners with the detailed plan – this is called the ALGEE action plan. The acronym stands for Approach, Listen, Give support, Encourage to seek professional support, Encourage support others.

The course itself is interesting and interactive. The delegates participate in various role play scenarios and case studies. You will learn interesting and relevant statistics around mental health – for example, did you know that in the UK more people die because of poor mental health (suicide)  than in car accidents?

Mental Health First Aid Training is for everyone. First of all it is for you. It helps to look after your own mental health and help yourself. You will feel more confident to speak about mental health issues with your family members, work colleagues and even strangers.

If your work environment is very social you might want to consider becoming a Mental Health First Aider. Other areas where mental health training is useful are: working as a teacher, manager, police officer, nurse, social worker or any other professional.

If you choose the most comprehensive 2 day Mental Health First Aid Course  you will be attending 4 sessions:

Online Adult Mental Health First Aid Training lasts 16 hours over 2 or 4 days. 

Please login 15 min early to grab a cup of tea and a biscuit before we get started.

Look for the training location and dates on www.sirentraining.co.uk or firstaidcourselondon.com You can book yourself on a public course, or book a group for your workplace.  If you are looking to book a course, make sure that you receive an official MHFA England certificate. MHFA England is the only organisation who is licensed to train instructors and provide a certificate that is recognised in the workplace.

There are 3 types of Mental Health First Aid training – 2 day Mental Health First Aid (this course will certify you as a Mental Health First Aider), 1 day Mental Health First Aid (this course will teach you ALGEE action plan, but you are not certified as a Mental Health First Aider), Half Day Mental Health First Aid Course (the course designed purely to raise awareness around mental health).

Now all the MHFA England courses are available in an online format.

If you have just started researching about the Mental Health Training, you may find the process confusing. You will find tons of companies who provide Mental Health First Aid training. So how do you choose the right provider?

The only company who trains trainers is MHFA England. The same trainers work across different training providers. The main criteria choosing Mental Health First Aid Training are date, location and price. Essentially, you get the same certificate whether you booked with company A or B,C,D